薛 华

（南阳市第一完全学校，河南南阳 473001）

摘 要：本文以评价理论下的态度系统和系统功能语言学下的情态系统为基础，采用定量和定性相结合的方法，从语气、情态、人称和态度等方面对中美能源企业各30篇英文致股东信进行对比研究，发现中美能源企业英文致辞在情态表达和态度上的差异及其原因，以期对致股东信撰写者及英语教学者等有所帮助。

关键词：致股东信函；情态系统；对比研究；评价理论；态度系统

作者简介：薛华，南阳市第一完全学校教师，研究方向：商务英语。

A Comparative Study of Modality in Letters to Shareholders between Chinese and American Energy Companies(www.daowen.com)

XUE Hua

(Nanyang First Pre-K-High Educational School, Nanyang 473001, China)

Abstract: Based on attitude system under Martin’s appraisal theory and Halliday’s modality theory, this paper adopts both qualitative and quantitative methods.The paper takes 60 letters to shareholders from 30 U.S.energy companies and 30 China energy companies as corpus, and conduct a contrastive analysis in the aspects of mood, modality, person, attitude and so on.The paper then discusses the differences in modality and attitude as well as the reasons behind them.It is hoped that this paper will help the English teachers and writers of letters to shareholders.

Key words: letters to shareholders; modality system; comparative study; appraisal theory;attitude system